Schulich Makerspace: General Access Training

We offer many opportunities in the Schulich Makerspace. By completing this General Access Training, you will have access to the following room during open hours:

• HQ (ENA 03)

Workspaces within this room can be booked ahead of time if you would like to secure a spot. 

Please note that university-wide holidays and closures apply. Some spaces may have extended hours depending on staff availability; for the most up-to-date schedule for each space, please visit our Facilities page:

Other spaces

Some rooms/spaces require further training before you can access them. These include:

• Electronics (ENG 29)
• Music & Sound (ENG 23 and ENG 25)
• Welding (ENC 04)
• Paint Booth (ENC 37)
• Student Machine Shop (ENC 09)
• Robotics/IoT Lab (ICT 215)
• VR Lab (ICT 224)

Space access trainings are available for you to complete. Visit our access trainings page for further details:

Bookings

You can drop in to use any makerspace that you have completed the access training for on a first-come, first-served basis -- just check in at the door. However, we recommend booking workspaces/equipment ahead of time to secure a spot. This can be done using our online booking system. If you do not book ahead of time, there is no guarantee that you will have a spot. Whether you book ahead of time or drop in, you must check in once you arrive. If you don't check in within 15 minutes of your booked time, your booking will be cancelled.

How to make a booking:

• Navigate to the Bookings link in the top navigation bar
• Ensure Makerspace is selected in the Location dropdown
• Select the appropriate space from the Space/Category dropdown.
• Select the workspace and time you would like to book.
  • If you would like to use specific equipment tied to a particular workstation, please ensure you book a time for that spot. For example, in HQ, there are two spots with dedicated soldering equipment.
  • If you would like to work in the space in general, you can book one of the seats titled "Workspace in [room name]". For these bookings, workbench/desk space and equipment in the room are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that restrictions on bookings may be in place. These restrictions relate to:

• Maximum length of a single booking
• Maximum amount of time that you can book per week
• Maximum lead time for bookings (one week)

Checking in

Whenever you are working in a Schulich Makerspace, you must first check in using your unicard. For HQ, this can be done on location (at the reception desk at the front of the room). 

At the entrance of the room, you will see a computer with a check in screen and a card reader.

• If you have made a booking already, all you need to do is tap your card to check in.
• If you have not made a booking but there are available workspaces that you have access to, you can book and check in on the spot by following the instructions on the screen.
• When you check in, the system will also verify that you have completed the appropriate training to access the resource(s) you have booked.
• If you are in the space, you must check in. If you are not checked in, you may be asked to leave.
• New as of Fall 2024: when you check in, you can earn Makerspace Points!

You should only use equipment that you feel you can operate safely. In addition, within the makerspaces, there are 4 different categories of equipment, labelled by colour. These colours identify whether a given piece of equipment requires additional training and if supervision is required after completing the training.

• ..... Green equipment is accessible once you have completed the appropriate space-specific training.
  • You should only use green equipment that you can operate safely.
  • Optional equipment-specific training is available for you to learn how to use any green equipment that you are not familiar with.
• ..... Yellow equipment requires equipment-specific training before use. This training may be in the form of a workshop, online guide, or on-the-spot training with a staff member. After completion, you can use the equipment without direct supervision.
• ..... Blue equipment requires equipment-specific training before use. Supervision is required even after completing the training. Users must inform the supervising staff regarding what they are working on each time they use the equipment.
• ..... Red equipment is only operated by SSE Tech Services staff. This type of equipment operates as a service, which you can request. Some services may require training prior to submitting a request.

As our facilities are constantly evolving, new equipment that requires special training before use may be added at any time. You can find a list of all available access trainings for both spaces and equipment using the following link:

Green equipment

Equipment in this category does not require any additional training prior to use. Once you have access to the room, you may use any equipment labelled with a green equipment sticker.

• Light hand tools, including hammers, screwdrivers, clamps, wire cutters, wire strippers, wire lug crimpers, vise grips, vises, pliers, tin snips, aviation snips, box cutters, saws, wrenches, sockets, files, chisels, planes, etc.

Yellow equipment

Equipment in this category requires completion of additional training (see links below) prior to use. Once you have completed the training, you may use the equipment without supervision.

• Sewing machines
• Embroidery machine
• Cricut
• Foam cutter
• Button press
• Self-serve Prusa MK4 3D printers (not part of the main fleet)
• Self-serve Prusa MK4 with MMU3
• Power tools (e.g., hand drills, dremels, heat guns, soldering irons)

Blue equipment

Equipment in this category requires completion of additional training prior to use. Once you have completed the training, you may use the equipment with supervision.

• Laser cutter
• Direct to garment printer

Red equipment

Equipment in this category is operated by SSE Technical Services staff only. To request the equipment service, you must first complete additional training (see links below).

• Markforged Metal X (metal 3D printing)
• Prusa XL
• 3D printer fleet: Prusa MK4*

*Note: The 3D printers in HQ are part of a 3D printer fleet; this is accessed via a cloud 3D printing service. To request 3D prints, you must first complete 3D Printing: Basics training, which is available online.